Railway signaling apparatus



Feb. 23, 1943. s YQUNG 2,312,059

RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1941 [NI 47012 HenPy 5. IunyHi5 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE RAILWAYSIGNALING APPARATUS Application November 21, 1941, Serial No. 419,850

6 Claims.

My invention relates to railway signaling apparatus, and is hasparticular reference to the organization of such apparatus into noveland improved forms of railway signal systems of the class involvingsearchlight signals.

Signal systems employing searchlight type signals usually utilizecircuit controlling contacts operated by the operating mechanism of suchsignals for effecting control of other portions of the signal system, asfor example, a searchlight signal governing traific on a stretch mayhave contacts operated thereby interposed in the control of the signalnext in the rear. Such signal mechanisms, which may for example be ofthe type shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,172,724,granted on September 12, 1939, to Wesley B. Wells and William K.Lockhart for Light signals, usually are arranged in such manner thatwhen the operating arm of the signal is in a position other than itsstop position, and the operating winding is controlled to condition theoperating arm to go to its stop position, a sticking or failure to openof the contacts operated by the signal mechanism cannot prevent movementof the operating arm to its stop position. Such a signal accordinglycannot be caused to display an improper indication due to its contactssticking or freezing closed in a proceed position.

If, however, the contacts of a signal should stick closed in a proceedposition, it is then possible that the rear signal may be caused todisplay a false indication due to the improperly closed contacts of theadvance signal. I am aware that it has been proposed to check theoperation of a searchlight signal by providing a relay, connected to thecontrol system of a signal in multiple with the signal operatingwinding, and utilizing such relay to control the operating circuit ofthe rear signal. With such an arrangement, it might be possible for asignal to with searchlight type signals.

Another object is to provide novel and improved checking means forpreventing false control of a device, such as a rear signal should thefor checking the operation of contacts associated contacts of asearchlight properly.

An additional object is to provide novel and improved signal systemsinvolving searchlight type signals arranged in such manner asto avoidcausing a rear signal to display an improper indication should thecontacts of the advance signal fail to operate properly.

A further object is to provide novel and improved forms of railwaysignal systems of the type employing searchlight type signals.

The above mentioned and other important objects and characteristicfeatures which will become readily apparent from the followingdescription, are attained in accordance with my invention by providing,in conjunction with each searchlight type of signal, a pole changingrelay and a stick relay. Each stick relay is normally energized over astick circuit including its own front contact and controlled by trafiicconditions in the section governed by the associated signal, and eachstick relay is provided with a pick-up circuit completed when thecontacts operated by the associated signal occupy their positionscorresponding to a stop indication of such signal. Each pole changingrelay is energized over a circuit including a front contact of theassociated stick relay, and each pole changing relay functions tocontrol the polarity of current supplied to the signal governing trafficin the block next in the rear.

I shall describe two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, andshall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing oneform of apparatus embodying my invention. Fif. 2 is a diagrammatic viewrepresenting a modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and alsoembodying my invention. In each of the two views, similar referencecharacters have been employed to designate corresponding parts.

Referring to Fig. l, the reference characters I and la designate thetrack rails of a stretch of railway track over which traffic normallymoves in the direction indicated by an arrow or from left to right asviewed in the drawing. The rails I and la are divided by insulatedjoints 2 into a plurality of successive adjoining track sections, ofwhich only one section, D-E, is represented complete in the drawing.Section D+E., as shown, is divided by insulated joints 2 at Da intosubsections D-Da and Da-E, each of which is provided with a trackcircuit comprising a suitable source of current, such as a battery 3,consignal fail to operate nected through an adjustable resistor 4 to therails at one end of the associated subsection, and a track relaydesignated by the reference character TR with a suitably distinguishingsufiix, connected to the rails at the opposite end of the subsection.

Each section has located adjacent its entrance end a signal, designatedby the reference character S with a suitably distinguishingsufiix, forgoverning traffic in the normal direction through the associatedsection. These signals, as mentioned heretofore, are of the Searchlightsignal type and each comprises an armature 8 mounted to rotate betweenan intermediate position, to which it is biased, and either of 'twoextreme positions. Armature 8 is controlled by an-oper ating winding 9and is arranged in such manner that when the winding is deenergized,armature 3 assumes its biased intermediate position, when winding 9 isenergized by current of what I shall term normal polarity, the armaturerotates in a clockwise direction to its extreme left-handposition, andwhen winding 9 is energized by current of the opposite or reversepolarity, armature 8 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to itsextreme right-hand position". Attached to armature 8 to rotate therewithare colored roundels G, R and Y, which are arranged to be disposed inthe path of a beamof light projected from an associated lamp l accordingas armature 8 occupies its extreme left-hand, its intermediate, or itsextreme right-hand position, respectively. For convenience inillustration, the lamp I0 is represented in the drawing disposed abovethe associated roundels, but it Will be readily understood that inactual practice lamp to will be located directly back of the associatedroundels, and will have associated therewith a suitable optical system,not shown, for projecting a beam of light from the signal.

Each signal S indicates proceed, stop or caution according as roundel G,R or Y is infront of its associated lamp [0 when this lamp is lighted.Each signal S has operatively associated with its armature 8 a circuitcontroller comprising a plurality of movable contact fingers selectivelyoperated into and out of engagement with a plurality of cooperatingfixed or stationary contact fingers. For example, signal SD has twomovable contact fingers H and 12, which engage back contact fingers 'l 3and I4, respectively, when armature 8vis in its biased intermediateposition. When armature 8 is rotated to its left-hand position as shownin Fig. 1, contact finger I is operated outof engagementwith member [3and into engagement with member [5, and whenarmature 8 is rotated to itsextreme right-hand position, contactfinger I2 is operated out ofengagement with member 14 and into engagement with member 16.

Each signal S is'normally dark, and has its' associated lamp [0 providedwith an obvious energizing-circuit including a source of current, suchas a battery not shown but having its opposite terminals designated bythe'reference characters B and C,'and a back contact 18 of a track relayof thesection next in the rear of the section governed by such signal.The signals S are thereforeapproach lighted and caused to display anilluminated indication when the sectionin the rear is occupied.

Each signal S has associated therewith a checking relay, designated bythe reference char acter OK with a suitably distinguishing sufiix,

normally energized over a stick circuit including fix, for controllingthe polarity of current supplied to the operating winding of the signalnext in the rear. Relay PCR is energized over a circuit extending fromterminal B through either contact I2'H3, or contacts l2ld. and Il-l5, ofthe circuitcontroller of the associated signal, front contact 2| of theassociated checking relay CK, and the winding of relay PCR to terminalC.

Each signal S also is provided with an energizing line circuitcontrolled by traffic conditions in its associated section, by itsassociated checking relay CK, and by the pole changing relay PCRassociated with the signal next in advance. The line circuit of signalSD, represented in Fig. 1, extends from terminal B through front contact22 of relay PCRZ associated with'the signal next in advance of signalSD, front contacts 23 and 24 of relays TR3 and TR2, respectively,operating winding 9 of signal SD, front contact- 25 of relay TR2, frontcontact 26 of checking relay CKI, front contact 21 of relay TR3, andfront contact 23 of relay PCRZ to terminal C.

When relay PCRZ, associated with signal SEis released and the circuit ofwinding 9 of signal SD is closed at all other points, front contacts 22and 28 of relay PCRZ open and the associated back contacts close toreverse the polarity of current supplied to such circuit, as is readilyapparent from an inspection of the drawing.

In the normal condition of the apparatus, as represented in Fig. 1,section D--E and the sections in advance and in the rear are unoccupied;checking relay CKI associated with signal SD is energized over itspreviously traced stick circuit; pole changing relay PCRI associatedwith signal SD is energized over its previously traced circuitincluding, in series, contacts I2| 4 and Hl5 operated by signal SD; polechanging relay'PCR2 associated with signal SE is energized over circuitmeans not shown but substantially corresponding withthose in detail forrelay PCRI associated with signal'S D; and operating winding 9 of signalSD is energized by current of normal polarity with the result thatarmature 8 is in its extreme left-hand position "to condition signal SDto display its pr'ocee'd'indication. Lamp ll] of signal SD is,howevendeenergized and as a result signal SD is dark.

When a train occupies the section in the rear of section D-E, relay'I'Rl releases to close its back contact I8 and signal SD is caused todisplay an illuminated proceed indication until the train enters sectionD-E. When this happens, relay TRZ releases to open its front contact andthereby open the stick circuit of relay OK I which relay accordinglyreleases, and front contacts 24 and of relay TR2 also open to open theenergizing line circuit of signalSD, whereupon op'eratingwinding ,9becomes deenergized and signal SD is caused'to display itsilluminatedstop The circuit of relay PCRJ accordingly whereupon relayPCRI releases to reverse the polarity of current available to besuppliedto" the line circuit for the' signal associated with the sectionin the rearof sec'tio'ri'D-E. 'Ih'e'line circuit of winding 9 of signalSD is also'open at front contactZS of relay CKI, but when contactsl2-'l4 and |ll3 close due to armature 8 of signal SD assuming its biasedintermediate position, relay CKI then becomes energized over itspreviously traced pick-up circuit, which includes the named contactsoperated by signal SD, and relay CKI accordingly closes its frontcontact 26 to prepare the line circuit of signal SD.

The line circuit of signal SD is further opened at front contacts 23 and21 of relay TR3 when subsection DaE is entered, and when the section inadvance of section D-E is entered the polarity of current available tobe supplied to this circuit is reversed when relay PCRZ is caused torelease due to the associated signal SE being caused to assume its stopposition, and the associated pole changing relay PCR2 being released.

When the train vacates the section in the rear of section D-E, relay TRIpicks up to open its back contact l8, thereby opening the illuminatingcircuit of lamp H) of signal SD, whereupon that signal becomes dark.After the train vacates subsection DDa, relay TR2 picks up to close itsfront contacts 24 and 25 to prepare the line circuit of winding 9 ofsignal SD, and front contact 20 of relay TRZ also closes to complete thestick circuit of relay CKI Then, when thetrain vacates section Da-E,relay TR3 picks up to close its front contacts 23 and 2'! to completethe line circuit for winding 9 of signal SD, and winding 9 is energizedby current of reverse'polarity to cause armature 8 to rotate to itsright-hand position. Signal SD is accordingly conditioned to display itsapproach indication, and contact l2l6 of signal SD closes to cause relayPCRI to pick up and close its front contacts to cause the currentsupplied to the line circuit of the section in the rear to be shiftedfrom reverse to normal polarity.

When pole changing relay PCRZ is caused to pick up, the current suppliedto the line circuit of signal SD is shifted from the reverse to thenormal polarity and armature 8 of signal SD accordingly operates to itslefthand position to condition the signal to display its proceedindication. The apparatus associated with section D-E is thus restoredto its normal condition as represented in the drawing.

Should, however, the contacts operated by signal SD fail to operateproperly when the signal is conditioned to display its stop indication,such failure is detected by the associated apparatus-1n the followingmanner. Assume, for example, that with the apparatus in its normalcondition as represented in the drawing, contact Hl fails to open whenthe train occupies section DE and signal SD is conditioned to displayits stop indication. In such an event, the stick circuit of checkingrelay CKI is opened at front contact of relay TRZ and relay CKIaccordingly releases. With contact I I-l5 thus closed, the pick-upcircuit of relay CKI cannot become closed, and such relay remainsreleased after the train vacates the section D-E and relays TR2 and 'IR3pick up. With relay CKI released, the line circuit of signal SD isopened at front contact 26, hence winding 9 of signal SD cannot beenergized, and signal SD is caused to be conditioned to display its mostrestrictive or stop indication. In addition, relay PCRI associated withsignal SD remains released to cause the current supplied-to the linecircuit of reverse polarity. This of course causesthesignal in the rearof signal SD to be conditioned to display its approach indication.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the apparatus embodyingmy inventionisso' arranged that when thecontactsof a searchlight signalfail to operate properly, the signal is conditioned to display its mostrestrictive indication regardless'of trafiic conditions on the stretch,and the signal in the rear of such signal i conditioned to display itsapproach indication. It follows that should a signal operated contact bestuck in a clear position, and an open-circuit condition exist in thewinding of such signal, the apparatus embodying my invention functionsto prevent clearing of the signal, and it also controls the signal inthe rear to display its approach indication, thus precludin thepossibility of having a clear indication displayed by a signal in therear of 'asignal displaying its stop indication.

In Fig. 2, the apparatus of Fig. 1 has been modified to incorporateapproach lighting relays ATR, one for each track circuit and eachconnected in series with thetrack circuit source'to the rails of theassociated'section. These approach lighting relays ATR are normallydeenergized when the associated section is unoccupied, and are arrangedin such manner that when a train occupies a section and establishes atrain shunt across the track rails, the associated approach lightingrelay A'IR is eifectively energized and picked up due to the increasedcurrent caused to flow in the track circuit. Each relay A'I'R whenpicked up closes its front contact 30 to complete an obvious energizingcircuit for lamp [0 of the signal associated with the'section inadvance, and it follows that each signal S of Fig. 2 is caused to becomeapproach energized when a train occupies the section in the rear of suchsignal.

In addition the apparatus of Fig. 2 is arranged with each pole changingrelay PCR controlled over the line circuit for the signal in the rear.Relay PCRI of Fig. 2, for example, is energized over a circuit extendingfrom terminal B through front contact 3| of relay CK2, contact 32-33 or3435 of signal SE, the winding of relay PCRI, front contact 36 of relayTR2, contact 3'|'38 or 39-40 of signal SE, and front contact 4| of relayCKZ to terminal C. Relay PCRI controls the polarity of current suppliedto operating winding 9 of signal SD, as is readily apparent from aninspection of the drawing, and checking relay CKI controls at its frontcontact 43. the supply of current to the associated signal SD.

It is'believed that the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 2 will bereadily apparent from an inspection of the drawing taken in connectionwith the foregoing description of the operation of the apparatus of Fig.1, and a detailed explanation of the operation of the apparatus of Fig.2 is believed unnecessary, it being noted that checking relay CKI ofFig. 2 is released if the contacts operated by signal SD fail to operateproperly and that when relay CKI is released, signal SD is deenergizedand is conditioned to display its stop indication, and 'theline circuitfor thesection in the rear is also deenergized' so that the polechanging relay for the rear sigh'alis deenergized,

thus conditioning the rear signal to display its various changes cautionindication.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms ofrailwaysignaling apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood thatnd modificationsimay be made thereinwithin the scepter "the; appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a signaling system for a stretch of railway track divided intoblocks each provided with a track circuit including a track relay, saidsystem having for each block a signal provided with a controllingwinding and arranged to indicate proceed or caution according as suchsignal controlling winding is supplied with current of one relativepolarity or the other and indicating stop when such signal controllingwinding is deenergized, each said signal controlling contactsselectively closed when such signal is conditioned to display proceed,caution, or stop, respectively; the combination with each of saidsignals of a stick relay normally energized over a stick circuitincluding its own front contact and controlled by the track relay of theassociated block and provided with a pick-up circuit completed when thecontacts of the associated signal occupy the positions corresponding tothe stop indication of such signal, a pole changing relay associatedwith each signal and energized over a circuit including a front contactof the associated stick relay, and means controlled by each polechanging relay for controlling the polarity of current supplied to thesignal of the block next in the rear.

2. In a signaling system for a stretch of railway track divided intoblocks each provided with a track circuit including a track relay, saidsystem including a line circuit for each block controlled by the trackrelay for such block and a signal for each block having a controllingwinding supplied 7 with current of one relative polarity or the otheraccording as the associated line circuit is supplied with current ofsaid one relative polarity or the other, each said signal being arrangedto indicate proceed or caution according as such signal controllingwinding is energized by current of said one relative polarity or theother and each signal displaying stop when its controlling winding isdeenergized, each said signal being operatively connected with contactsselectively closed according as such signal is conditioned to indicateproceed, caution orstop, respectively; the combination with each saidsignal of a stick relay normally energized over a stick circuitcontrolled by the track relay of the associated block and provided witha pick-up circuit completed when the contacts of the associated signaloccupy the positions corresponding to the stop indication of suchsignal, and means controlled by each said stick relay for controllingthe polarity of cur rent supplied to the line circuit of the block nextin the rear.

3. In a signaling system for a stretch of railway track divided intosections each provided with a track circuit including a normallyenergized track relay, said system comprising a line circuit for eachsection including a front contact of the track relay for the associatedsection, and a signal for eachsection having a control winding suppliedwith current of one relative polarity or the other according as the linecircuit for the associated section is supplied with current of onerelative polarity or the other, each said signal being conditioned todisplay a first indication or a second indication according as theassociated control winding is energized by current of one relativepolarity or the other and displaying a third indication when suchcontrol winding, isdeenergized, each said signal having contactsoperatively associated therewith and selectively closedaccording as saidsignal is con-, ditioned to display its first, second, or thirdindication, respectively; lthelcombination in such a system ,of astickrelay for'each of said signals, a stick circuit forfl'each stick relayincluding a front contact of such relay. and a front contact of thetrack relay of, the associated section, a pick-up circuit for each stickrelay completed when the contacts of the associated signal occupy thepositions corresponding to the said third indication of such signal,andvmeans controlled by each stick relay for controlling the polarity ofcurrent supplied to the line circuit of the section next in the rear..

4. In a signal system for a stretch of railway track divided intoaplurality of successive adjoining track sections eachprovided with avtrack circuit includinga normally energized track relay, said systemincluding a signal for each section having a control winding andarranged to display'a first indication or a second indicationv accordingas said winding is energized by current of one relative polarity, or theother and displaying a third indication when said winding is de- Ienergized, each said. signal having contacts operatively connectedtherewith and arranged to be selectively, closed, according as theassociated signal displays its first, second or third indica tionrespectively; the combination, in such a systemof a stick relay'for eachof said signals, a stick circuit for'norrnally energizing eachof saidstick relays and including afront contact of such relay and a frontcontact of the track relay of the section associated with the associatedsignal, a pick-up circuit for each stick relay completed when thecontacts of the associated signal occupy the positions corresponding tothe said third indication of said signal, and a circuit includinga frontcontact of a stick relay for supplying energy of one relative'polarityor the other to the control winding of the associated signal accordingas the signal in advance is displaying either its said first or secondindication'or said advance signal is displaying its said thirdindication.

5. In a signal system for a stretch of railway track divided into aplurality of successive adjoining track sectionseach. provided with atrack circuit including anormally energized track relay, said systemincludingaplurality of signals one for-governing trafiicin eachof saidsections, each of said signals having a control Winding and an operatingmember operated thereby from a biased intermediate position to one oranother of two extreme positions according as said control winding isenergized by current of one relative polarity or the other, each saidsignal having contacts operatively connected with its operating memberin such manner as to be selectively closed in the three positions ofsaid member; .the combination in such a system of a plurality of stickrelays one for each of said signals and each normally energized over astick circuit including its own front contact and a front contact of thetrack relay of the section governed by the associated signal, aplurality of pick-up circuits one for each of said stick relays and eachcompleted when and only when the contacts operated by the associatedsignal occupy the positions corresponding to the'biased intermediateposition of the operating member of such signal, and a plurality ofenergizing circuits one for each signal and each including a frontcontact of the associated stick relay and including means governed bythesignalin advance for controlling the polarity of current supplied tosuch circuit..

6. In combination with a section of railway track provided with a trackcircuit including a track relay and having associated therewith a signalfor governing trafiic in said section and comprising a control windingand an operating member operated by said control winding from a biasedintermediate position to one or another of two extreme positionsaccording as said control winding is energized by current of onerelative polarity or the other, said signal having contacts operativelyconnected with said operating member and selectively closed in each ofthe three positions of said operating member, a

stick relay normally energized over a stick circuit including its ownfront contact and a front contact of said track relay, a pick-up circuitfor said stick relay completed when and only when the contacts of saidsignal occupy the position corresponding to the biased intermediateposition of said operating member, and means controlled by said trackrelay and including a front contact of said stick relay for energizingsaid control winding with current having one relative polarity or theother in accordance with traflic conditions in advance of said section.

HENRY S. YOUNG.

